Within walking distance of Oxford's dreaming spires, The Fishes is an oasis of calm from the long summer queues on the A34.

Expect an eclectic menu of modern British dishes with a Mediterranean slant, from all-day deli boards offering nibbles of cheeses, cold meats and smoked fish (£1.75 each, £8.75 a board), and pub classics (£10-£17.50). Chefs will freshly prepare smaller portions for kids. But why keep them at the table? Instead, borrow a rug from behind the bar, order a jug of Pimms and a large picnic hamper (seafood, ploughman's, vegetarian – all £23), or tuck into great barbecue dishes and spread yourself out by the river. What's more, for or every Caesar salad ordered a 25p contribution is made to healthy eating opportunities at a local primary school.